The topic of Chinese EVs has been a hot one as of late, and in various countries around the world where those types of vehicles could be sold in the future. Amid concerns over unfair competitive practices and possible human rights violations stemming from raw materials sourcing, several countries have mulled the idea of slapping Chinese EVs with high tariffs, and that list includes Canada. Now, just a few weeks after a report surfaced indicating that China’s BYD was looking at entering the Canadian market, the country has indeed taken action.
According to Reuters, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has revealed that the country plans to implement a 100 percent tariff on imported Chinese EVs, as well as a 25 percent tariff for imported steel and aluminum from that same part of the world. “I think we all know that China is not playing by the same rules,” Trudeau said. “What is important about this is we’re doing it in alignment and in parallel with other economies around the world.”
As Trudeau pointed out, the U.S. already decided to raise its own tariffs on Chinese EVs and imported raw materials earlier this year, though the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) recently announced that it decided to delay the start date of those new tariffs as it works through the process of reviewing 1,100 public comments on the matter. Amid concerns that these tariffs could have a massive financial impact on select American industries, Reuters notes that the final rule may be softened as a result.
U.S. officials also recently convinced Mexico to drop its own incentives for Chinese automakers, but as Ford Authority previously reported, there are some experts who remain unconvinced that high tariffs will be an effective way to level the competitive playing field. Regardless, many automakers – including Ford – see Chinese EVs not only as a competitive problem, but also, a potential national security threat.
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Comments
Taiwan is its own country
Good.
Great we’re stuck with 50-100k American junk mainly built with Chinese parts anyway.
Weird Don seems to think tariffs are a good idea, too;
but logic, reason, evidence and history all prove that they end up hurting the country that imposes the tariffs.
It costs you nothing to think and research for yourself.
(and it keeps you from being weird…..like Don, #45.)
Of course we are now forced to buy American made junk like Ford/GM, after 20 years of Ford/GM, I switched to Kia last year and it is the best move I ever made.